MAYOR’S STARK WARNING: ‘WE MUST ALL FOLLOW LATEST RULES’

❝We are very concerned about the future. We are experiencing a second wave.

BRISTOL’S mayor has issued a stark warning “we are experiencing a second wave” of coronavirus as he urged people to follow the new rules or risk large fines.

The advice from Mayor Marvin Rees comes after the Government announced a raft of new restrictions and requirements to halt the spread of Covid-19, including extending the number of settings where facemasks must be worn.

Mr Rees set out the new rules during a Facebook Live session on Wednesday night, saying it was important for everyone to follow them as Bristol was still “precariously balanced” in terms of the virus.

He added that there would be a general shift “more towards enforcement” and that he did not want individuals or businesses to have to pay the new fines of up to £10,000 that could be imposed.

His message came as latest coronavirus figures showed a significant rise in coronavirus cases in the UK’s third highest daily rise ever.

“We are very concerned about the future,” he said.

“We are experiencing a second wave.

“We really have to take care and cooperate with the guidance.

“It’s important you know this, because there’s going to be a general shift more towards enforcement.

“So businesses - and we want you to avoid this - businesses will be fined £10,000 and could be closed if they breach regulations.

“The fine for people not wearing face coverings in shops, supermarkets, public transport and indoor hospitality [such as pubs and restaurants] will double to £200 for a first offence, up from £100.

“And this fine will be the same for those who break the ‘rule of six’.

“New fines for those breaching self-isolation rules will start at £1,000 - which is the same as for breaking quarantine after international travel.

“The fines could increase up to £10,000 for repeat offences and for the worst breaches.

“Please avoid getting fines by supporting the behaviours that we need.”

Mr Rees said officers would be concentrating their efforts on places known for repeat offences and offenders “so there’ll be less reticence about issuing fines”.

“We’re telling you because we want you to be aware of the law, the regulations and the penalties to avoid people in Bristol being fined,” he said.

He added that people will be required by law to self-isolate from September 28, but a support payment of £500 will be available for those on lower incomes who cannot work from home and have lost income as a result.

“If you do get symptoms, stay at home, call the NHS 111 or book a test online and self-isolate until you get the results from that test,” Mr Rees said.

“We need to do everything to halt its spread: it’s about the virus, but it’s about the economic consequences of the virus.

Mayor Marvin Rees

“We’re responsible to each other – one person’s actions can save or cost the lives, the livelihoods, of another.

“Isolating is what stops the spread of the virus, so we welcome you working with the city to keep us all safe.”

Meanwhile Police and Crime Coimmissioner Sue Mountstevens said in light of the new regulations officers would continue to approach people not following the rules by using the four E’s: Engage, Encourage, Explain and Enforce.

She said in her regular column for the Post: “Undoubtedly, the stricter regulations will create extra demand for officers, and the Chief Constable has the full support of me and my team to ensure his officers and staff have everything they need to keep communities safe.”

THIS week, we heard from the Prime Minister regarding the increasing number of coronavirus cases and the potential consequences if we do not stop this exponential growth. In order to prevent a rapid increase in hospitalisations and even deaths, we all need to play our part and follow the new regulations announced this week.

I know many of us will feel disappointed that these new rules have become necessary; after a summer where life was returning to ‘normal’ we now face another six months of uncertainty.

Without a doubt these new restrictions will impact everyday lives and our local businesses.

However, I cannot stress enough that we must all adhere to the new regulations. As Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said this week, “this is not someone else’s problem, this is everyone’s problem.”

Once again, we are being asked to take personal responsibility to stop the rapid transmission of the virus to protect the most vulnerable people in our communities and lessen the impact of coronavirus. Life will be different for some time but if we ignore the increase in cases, the sacrifices we made at the start of the year will have been wasted.

I’m sure many of you will have questions about what the new regulations mean for policing. Officers will continue to approach local people who are not following the rules by using the four E’s: Engage, Encourage, Explain and Enforce.

This enforcement includes issuing fines, which as announced this week, have increased to £200.

Undoubtedly, the stricter regulations will create extra demand for officers, and the Chief Constable has the full support of me and my team to ensure his officers and staff have everything they need to keep communities safe. To support our officers, if you think someone is breaking the Government restrictions, please report these breaches via the Avon and Somerset Police’s website rather than calling 101.

The Chief Constable and I will be hosting our regular Facebook Live on Tuesday at noon. We will be discussing the new regulations and I will be putting your questions about coronavirus and policing to the Chief Constable.

Finally, my online survey is running until October 7 and I am asking local people to share their thoughts and concerns about policing in their area.

We need you to let us know what you think about how you and your community are policed, what the police service does well and what we can tell them to improve.

We want to make positive changes to our policing service to ensure money, police officers and resources are in the right places.

I want you to help us understand what matters most to our communities.

Please visit www.avonandsomerset-pcc.gov.uk to complete the survey.